Randomness in existence or not

Fairness  

One can conclude life is not always fair. For instance if we were born elsewhere life could indeed be most likely dramatically different, with the much better chance that we may have to endure extreme sufferings simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Those same principles might apply here, to anyone growing up in a severely disadvantaged family or community. So, is life just a random series of events which we just have to cope one way or another in terms of existence?   Does that mean the myths, stories, metaphors and allegory are fanciful narrations that can only deceive us and give false hope?  

Existensionalism

Existentialism was a movement influencing both culture philosophy and psychology. There are inferences it can be linked to randomness and absurdity as a starting point to any debate on existence. The other aspect concerns whether or not randomness is deterministic. On the flip side most of what we do and analysis is based on random probabilities which one might argue follows a non- deterministic path. Then of course you have random acts of kindness.

That positive response paradoxically has nothing to do with a response to randomness and might even be traced back to ancestral evolution. The idea of sacrifice or altruism which enhanced the future generation’s chance of survival.

For absurdity and or randomness are not generally the basis of existentialism except for one notable exception. namely Albert Camus. Even so, Camus concluded the world absurdly (as in how he perceived it) necessitated one to create one’s own meaning, presupposing existence ( life to be lived) as if randomness does not apply.

The argument posited by some non – theists is that randomness negates us referencing or talking about any myths. Their position is they are all false because all there is, is randomness and you can’t posit any truth associated with them but instead risk being deceived.   

But in the same breath opponents suggest we can organise society to deal more compassionately with the selective results of randomness.

But isn’t that exactly what some of the myths aim at doing in every society in any event? The way it is and the complexity of a world which is mostly deterministic or only free to the extent we can proceed with random probabilities as if we have free will. Kierkegaard, regarded as the father of existentialism, found myths helpful whilst the others loosely defined as existential philosophers built on that same foundation to give different perspectives. Some were atheists, whilst others theists. They can both be seen as different perspectives but nothing directly related to the idea of randomness. Nietzsche used his mythical prophet Zarathustra to give impetus to existential meaning.    

Don’t Myths, stories and art define our culture, just as it does for those countries identified, to provide existential meaning? This changes over time to attempt to reveal the truth from different perspectives.  

In the western tradition Kierkegaard was regarded as the father of existentialism and talked about the leap of faith necessary by reference to a myth in the OT in his rejection of rationality. The myth in turn was most likely written as a story against human sacrifice. Hence we find meaning in the myths, allegories, metaphors and the stories we tell ourselves.

They form the background to a country’s culture, the law and societal values. In the west of course it is the Jewish Christian tradition that permeates existence but elsewhere there are other rich traditions. 

We don't believe in these myths but rather their perspectives attempt to reveal to us the truth from different perspectives. They invite introspection and possibly the future for religion as espoused by the late pragmatic philosopher Richard Rorty.      

Summing up a lot of this is a bit like the free will versus determinism perennial debate - regardless we live life as if we are free even although for the most part we aren't. So there is an element of randomness but that doesn’t mean we throw out the concepts and ideas dependent on the myths, metaphors and stories that underpin our existence and provide different perspectives.